When students think about choosing their electives, the same classes often come to mind: Basic Design/Drawing, Journalism, Graphic Arts, Drama, and so on. However, some of the lesser-known options at Saint Francis can offer students the same enjoyment as the more popular electives while also providing students with skills that extend beyond the classroom. Introduction to Woodworking and Personal Finance are two electives that give students the opportunity to learn practical skills they may not encounter in their other classes.
In Introduction to Woodworking, students follow a design-thinking process and build projects while learning about different carpentry techniques, safety procedures, and tools. Instead of simply learning about a concept through reading or note taking, students are able to put what they learn into practice by designing and creating something themselves. The class gives students a safe environment to bring their ideas to life while working alongside their classmates.
For Luke Abelson (’28), a student in Woodworking, that hands-on experience is an important part of the class. “I’ve learned hands-on skills with wood, and in the future I can definitely build things like furniture or decoration for my future home,” Abelson said.
Woodworking also gives students a chance to take a break from their rigorous academic schedules and work creatively. When asked why he would recommend Woodworking to another student, Abelson said that Woodworking is “a lot of fun, and a very different class from anything else you can take.”
While Woodworking gives students the chance to build something with their hands, Personal Finance focuses on teaching students how to manage money and prepare financially for the future.
The class focuses on building students’ financial literacy skills, which includes investing, budgeting, and resume building. Skills which students may not encounter in a traditional classroom but are becoming increasingly important as students grow older and begin to search for jobs and manage their expenses.
Misha Punjabi (’28) has already applied what she has learned in the class to her life outside of school. “Actually, I have my own resume, so I edited it based on the class,” Punjabi said. She also said that students “learn a lot while still having fun.”
Although the two classes focus on completely different subjects, both of them give students an opportunity to learn something practical. Woodworking provides students with a safe, hands-on environment to express their design creativity and meet like-minded thinkers, while Personal Finance gives students real-life money management skills that are necessary in preparing for adulthood. For students looking beyond the more familiar electives, these classes offer another way to experience and discover interests that can benefit them both inside and outside of school.
